Eight People Hanged in Various Iranian Prisons

The recent wave of executions in Iran may be related to the upcoming Muslim holy month of Muharram.

Iran Human Rights has confirmed the execution of eight people in various Iranian prisons.

Iran Human Rights (SEPT 21 2017): A total of eight prisoners were reported hanged in various Iranian prisoners. Iranian official sources, including the Judiciary and the state-run media, have not announced these eight executions.

According to close sources, on Tuesday September 19, a prisoner was reportedly hanged at Khorramabad Central Prison on murder charges. The prisoner has been identified as Mohammad Haji Sabzali. Mohammad was reportedly arrested and sentenced to death six years ago. On the morning of Wednesday September 20, another prisoner was hanged at this prison on murder charges. The name of the prisoner is not known at this time.

According to the human rights news agency, HRANA, on the morning of Monday September 18, a prisoner was hanged at Broujerd Central Prison on murder charges. The prisoner has been identified as Hossein Dalvand.

According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network and sources close to Iran Human Rights, on the morning of Monday September 19, three prisoners were hanged at Tabriz Central Prison. These three prisoners were reportedly transferred to solitary confinement on Sunday in preparation for their executions. The prisoners have been identified as Sina Assadzah and Ahad Pourtaghi, sentenced to death on murder charges, and Yousef Ebrahmi. "Yousef Ebrahimi was in prison for twenty years on murder and sodomy charges. He was able to gain forigiveness from the complainants on his case file regarding the murder charge, but he was executed on sodomy charges.

According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, on the morning of Wednesday September 20, two prisoners were hanged at Qazvin Central Prison on drug related charges. The two prisoners have been identified as Teyb Hajizadeh and Mojtaba Rahmati. Teyb and Mojtaba were transferred to solitary confinement on Tuesday night in preparation for their executions.

Iranian official sources, including the Judiciary and the state-run media, have not announced any of these executions. The recent wave of executions in Iran may be related to the upcoming Muslim holy month of Muharram. During Muharram, the rate of executions in Iran significantly decreases.

Close sources have also reported on a prisoner by the name of Massoud Joodaki, who was taken to solitary confinement on Saturday September 16 in preparation for his execution. Massou Joodaki, who is on death row on drug related charges, was reportedly returned to his cell after his execution was stayed.